Delhi High Court Directs 'India Taekwondo' To Forward List Of Eligible Athletes For Upcoming World Championship At Bulgaria

As an interim relief to athletes seeking to participate in the upcoming World Taekwondo Games to be held in Sofia, Bulgaria, the Delhi High Court has directed 'India Taekwondo' to forward names of qualified athletes as part of the Indian Team, for consideration of 'World Taekwondo'.

In the backdrop of the 'Taekwondo Federation of India' losing recognition by World Taekwondo (Federation), Justice Yashwant Varma observed that qualified athletes should not lose the opportunity to represent India in World Taekwondo Championships.

The order stated,

"It would appear to be expedient to request the second respondent (India Taekwondo) to forthwith forward the names of the petitioners here as part of the Indian Team in Taekwondo for the upcoming games to be held in Sofia. The Court further directs in the interim, that the respondent No. 2 shall draw a list of all eligible athletes who had participated in the India Digitally Signed By:NEHA Signing Date:05.07.2022 17:24:51 Signature Not Verified Taekwondo Open National Ranking Competition 2022 and who would be eligible to participate in the upcoming games at Sofia for the consideration of World Taekwondo. That list shall necessarily include the names of the petitioners whose eligibility to participate is conceded by respondent no. 2. The team so selected and framed by the respondent No.2 would be liable to be recognised as the Indian Taekwondo contingent."

The background of the dispute is that initially the discipline of Taekwondo was being administered and managed by the Taekwondo Federation of India (TFI). However, due to managerial disputes between the members of TFI, it ceased to enjoy recognition by World Taekwondo (Federation). A petition was filed due to such inter se disputes within the organisation and the Court directed the TFI to hold elections for its executive committee. The court also directed Sports Authority of India to make timely selection of players for representing India in International events.

Meanwhile, the Indian Olympic Association, on confirmation with the World Taekwondo (Federation), formed the "India Taekwondo", a body meant to replace the TFI as the sole national governing body of Taekwondo in India. India Taekwondo was formally recognised as such by the World Taekwondo (Federation). Thereafter, Indian Taekwondo Athletes have been participating and representing India through India Taekwondo in all international competitions organized by the World Taekwondo (Federation).

The dispute in the present petition arose when the World Taekwondo organised the World Cadet Championships, Sophia, Bulgaria. While under the directions of the Court, the names of the Indian Athletes Team were selected and forwarded by the Sports Authority of India to World Taekwondo, the same were not accepted as the India Taekwondo was the sole recognized agency for selection and proposal of names.

The petitioners submitted that in the Indian Taekwondo Open National competition event for Cadet and Junior category, organised by the India Taekwondo, the petitioners secured gold medals. In fact, the petitioners, through selection carried out by the Indian Taekwondo, even participated and won gold medals in the 9th Fujairah Open International Taekwondo Championship 2022 held at UAE and organized by World Taekwondo. Despite the same, the petitioners were unable to compete at the upcoming competition at Bulgaria as the India Taekwondo was not forwarding their names.

The court opined that –

"Undisputedly, the process of constitution of the managerial committee of TFI is yet to be completed. The Court further notes that even after the said process is completed, TFI would have to obtain requisite recognition from World Taekwondo. The Court also bears in mind a communication of 10 June 2022 sent by World Taekwondo in response to a communication of 30 May 2022 addressed by the second respondent to it. In that communication, the world body has noted that as per its rules, the only member in India recognised by it namely, India Taekwondo, the second respondent herein, is authorised to conduct selection and dispatch teams to World Taekwondo events. It appears that although pursuant to the order of 30 May 2022, the second respondent had forwarded the names of certain athletes, that request was not acceded to by World Taekwondo since those athletes were apparently not trained or selected by the second respondent."

The court thus passed an interim order stating that in view of the aforesaid and till such time as the final directions of the main order (concerning the managerial dispute of TFI) were duly complied with, the India Taekwondo had to forward the names of the petitioners as part of the Indian Team in Taekwondo for the upcoming games to be held in Sofia.

The Court further directed in the interim, that the India Taekwondo shall draw a list of all eligible athletes who had participated in the India Taekwondo Open National Ranking Competition 2022 and who would be eligible to participate in the upcoming games at Sofia for the consideration of World Taekwondo. The court held that the team so selected and framed would be recognised as the Indian Taekwondo contingent.

CASE TITLE: LAKSH RAWAL v. UNION OF INDIA

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